-lmë
suffix. we (inclusive)
Variations
- -lme ✧ PE17/057; PE17/190; VT49/38; VT49/48
- -lbe ✧ PE17/129 (-lbe)
-lvë
suffix. we (inclusive)
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶-lwe > -lve [-lwe] > [-lve] ✧ PE17/130 ✶we > -lwe > -lve [-lwe] > [-lve] ✧ VT49/50 Variations
- -lve ✧ PE17/130; VT49/51
- -lwe ✧ VT49/16
-lwë
suffix. we (inclusive)
elen
noun. Elf
penedh
noun. Elf
Derivations
Element in
- S. Morbenedh “*Dark-elf” ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶kwenedē > peneð [kwenedē] > [penedē] > [penede] > [peneðe] > [peneð] ✧ PE17/140 ✶kwenedē > Penn [kwendē] > [pendē] > [pende] > [pend] > [penn] ✧ PE17/141 Variations
- peneð ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141
- Penn ✧ PE17/141
edhel
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
Element in
- S. Adanedhel “Elf-man” ✧ SA/edhel
- S. Aerlinn in Edhil o Imladris “*Holy Song of the Elves of Rivendell” ✧ RGEO/62
- S. Aredhel “Noble Elf” ✧ SA/edhel
- S. Aredhel “Noble Elf” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/141
- S. Caledhel “*Light Elf”
- S. Danedhel “*Nando” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/141
- S. Dúnedhel “West-Elf” ✧ PE17/141; WJ/378
- S. Edhelharn “Elfstone”
- S. edhellen “elvish” ✧ PE17/045
- S. Edhellond “Elf-haven” ✧ UT/255
- S. Edhellos “Elven-flower” ✧ PM/346
- S. Glóredhel “*Golden Elf” ✧ SA/edhel
- S. Gwenedhel
- S. Lindedhel “Nandorin Elf”
- S. mellyn enin Edhellion “*friends of the Elves” ✧ PE17/097
- S. Mornedhel “Dark-elf” ✧ PE17/141; WJ/377
- S. Nínedhel “?Tear(ful) Elf” ✧ PE17/139
- S. Ost-in-Edhil “Fortress of the Eldar” ✧ SA/edhel
- S. Peredhel “Half-elf” ✧ SA/edhel
- S. Rúnedhel ✧ PE17/141
- S. Thinnedhel “Grey-elf” ✧ PE17/139
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶edelā > eðel [edelā] > [edela] > [eðela] > [eðel] ✧ PE17/139 ✶edelō > eðel [edelō] > [edelo] > [eðelo] > [eðel] ✧ PE17/141 ✶edelā > edhel [edelā] > [edela] > [eðela] > [eðel] ✧ PE17/151 ✶edelā > eðel [edelā] > [edela] > [eðela] > [eðel] ✧ PE17/152 ✶edelō > Edhel [edelō] > [edelo] > [eðelo] > [eðel] ✧ WJ/360 ✶edelō > Edhil [edelī] > [edeli] > [eðeli] > [eðili] > [eðil] ✧ WJ/360 Variations
- edhel ✧ PE17/045; PE17/151; RC/780; SA/edhel; UT/255; UTI/Edhelrim
- eðel ✧ PE17/139; PE17/141; PE17/152
- Eðel ✧ PM/346
eledh
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
Element in
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶eledā/elenā > eledh [eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð] ✧ Let/281 ✶eledā/elenā > elidh [eledī] > [eledi] > [eleði] > [eliði] > [elið] ✧ Let/281 ✶elenyā > elein [elenjā] > [elenja] > [elenia] > [eleni] > [elein] > [elain] ✧ PE17/139 ✶eledā > eleð [eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð] ✧ PE17/140 ✶eledā > eleð [eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð] ✧ PE17/141 ✶eledā > eledh [eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð] ✧ PE17/142 ✶elenā > Elen [elenā] > [elena] > [elen] ✧ WJ/360 ✶elenā > Elin [elenī] > [eleni] > [elini] > [elin] ✧ WJ/360 Variations
- eledh ✧ Let/281 (eledh); PE17/142; PE17/142; UTI/Edhelrim
- elein ✧ PE17/139 (elein)
- eleð ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141; PE17/142
- Elen ✧ WJ/363; WJ/377 (Elen); WJI/Elen
ell
noun. Elf
Cognates
- Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ Let/281; WJ/362
Derivations
- ✶eledā “star-folk, of the stars” ✧ PE17/141; WJ/360
- √EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281
- Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ PE17/141
- ✶eledā “star-folk, of the stars” ✧ Let/281; PE17/141; SA/êl; WJ/360; WJ/364; WJ/364
- √EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281
- ✶elenā “connected with or concerning the stars” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/152
- ✶elen “star” ✧ PE17/139
- √EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360
- ✶edelā “the fair” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/151
- √DEL “*fair” ✧ PE17/151
- ✶edelō “one who goes, traveller, migrant, marcher” ✧ PE17/152
- √DEL “walk, go, proceed, travel” ✧ WJ/360; WJ/363
Derivatives
Element in
- S. Aranel
- S. Aredhel “Noble Elf” ✧ PE17/141
- S. ar in Ellath epholar eno vi Eressai “*and the Elves (?remember) still in Eressëa” ✧ VT50/19
- S. Dúnedhel “West-Elf” ✧ PE17/141
- S. Elladan “Elf-man” ✧ Let/281
- S. Elleth “Elf-maid” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/152; WJ/363
- S. Ellon “Elf-man” ✧ PE17/141; WJ/363
- S. Elrohir “Elf-knight” ✧ Let/281
- S. Elrond “Star-dome” ✧ Let/281
- S. Elros “Star-foam” ✧ Let/281
- S. Elvellyn “Elf-friends, Elf-lovers” ✧ WJ/412
- S. Glinnel “*Singer-elf”
- S. i glinn hen agorer Edain mi Velerian, ach hí in Ellath îr ed epholar “*this song Men made in Beleriand, but now the Elves alone (?remember) it” ✧ VT50/15; VT50/15; VT50/15
- S. Laegel “Green-elves”
- S. Lindel “Nando”
- S. Miniel “Vanyar”
- S. sí il chem en i Naugrim en ir Ellath thor den ammen “*now all (?hands) of the Dwarves and Elves will be (?against) to us” ✧ VT50/23
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶eldā > ell [eldā] > [elda] > [elða] > [elð] > [ell] ✧ PE17/141 Q. elda > eld > ell [elda] > [elða] > [elð] > [ell] ✧ PE17/141 ✶eldā > Ell- [eldā] > [elda] > [elða] > [elð] > [ell] ✧ WJ/360 Variations
- ell ✧ Let/281; PE17/141; PE17/141 (ell); PE17/141; PE17/152 (ell)
- elt ✧ PE17/141
- Ell- ✧ WJ/363
- ell- ✧ WJ/364
lefn
elf left behind
pl. lifn.
send
grey-elf
(i hend, o send, construct sen) (probably a term only used by the Noldor, borrowed from Quenya Sinda), pl. sind (i sind), coll. pl. Sendrim (the only attested form).
ellon
elf-man
(pl. ellyn)
calben
elf of the great journey
(i galben, o chalben), pl. celbin (i chelbin).
pe
pronoun. we (inclusive)
Element in
Elements
Word Gloss ki “you (imperious/familiar)” we “we, us (inclusive)”
elvellon
elf-friend
(pl. elvellyn, coll. pl. elvellonnath (WJ:412);
edhel
elf
(pl. edhil). Coll. pl. Edhelrim (or Edhellim) (UT:318). Also †eledh, pl. elidh, coll. pl. eledhrim (Letters:281), also elen, pl. elin, also with coll. pl. eledhrim (elen + rim with the regular change nr > dhr). (WJ:363, 377-78; the shorter coll. pl. Eldrim > *Elrim*** may also occur). But since elin** also means "stars", other terms for "Elf" may be preferred.
edhelharn
elf-stone
(pl. edhelhern) (SD:128-31).
elleth
elf-woman
(pl. ellith) (WJ:363-64, 377)
gwe
pronoun. we (inclusive)
Derivations
Element in
laegel
green-elf
pl. laegil; coll. pl. laegrim or laegeldrim (WJ:385). These forms from a late source would seem to supersede the ”N” forms listed in LR:368 s.v. LÁYAK: *Lhoebenidh* or *Lhoebelidh*. The Green-elves of Beleriand were also called Lindel (pl. Lindil), also Lindedhel (pl. Lindedhil) *(WJ:385)*.
gwanwel
elf of aman
(”departed” Elf), pl. gwenwil (in gwenwil), coll. pl. gwanwellath. (WJ:378) Also gwanwen; see
miniel
first elf
(i Viniel), pl. Mínil (i Mínil), coll. pl. Miniellath. (WJ:383)
dúnedhel
elf of beleriand
(i Núnedhel), pl. *Dúnedhil*** (i Ndúnedhil*). (WJ:378, 386)*
peredhel
half-elf
(pl. peredhil) (PM:256, 348).
mornedhel
dark elf
(i Vornedhel), pl. Mornedhil (i Mornedhil). Conceivably the entire word could be umlauted in the pl.: ?Mernedhil. **(WJ:409) Another term for ”Dark Elf” is Dúredhel (i Dhúredhel), pl. Dúredhil (i Núredhil**).
avar
non-eldarin elf
pl. Evair, also called
ella
noun/adjective. Elf
Cognates
- Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ WJ/362; WJI/Eldar
Derivations
Element in
- T. Ellálië “Elvenfolk” ✧ WJ/375
ello
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
Element in
- T. Audel “Elf who left for Aman” ✧ WJ/364
penn
noun. Elf
Cognates
- ᴹQ. Qende “Elf”
Derivations
- ᴹ√KWEN(ED) “Elf”
Element in
- N.
Morbenn“Dark Elf” ✧ EtyAC/MOR (Morbenn)Variations
- penn ✧ PE22/067
penedh
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ✶kwenedē > penedh [kwenedē] > [penedē] > [penede] > [peneðe] > [peneð] ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED) ᴹ✶kwenedē > penidh [kwenedī] > [penedī] > [penedi] > [peneði] > [peniði] > [penið] ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED) Variations
- peneð ✧ EtyAC/SET (peneð)
Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!
qen
noun. Elf
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ✶qend(ǝ)mēn > qenwen [kwendemēn] > [kwendmēn] > [kwenmēn] > [kwenwēn] > [kwenwen] ✧ PE21/25 Variations
- qen ✧ PE21/19; PE21/25
qende
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
Element in
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ✶kwenedē > qende [kwenedē] > [kwendē] > [kwende] ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED) ᴹ✶kwĕndĕ > qende [kwende] ✧ PE21/69 Variations
- qende ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED); PE21/69
elda
noun. Elf
Changes
Elda→ Elda “‘departed’ Elf” ✧ Ety/ELEDCognates
Derivations
Element in
- ᴹQ. andalúme Eldar oianer Valinoresse, masse oiar sí “for a long while the Elves lived in Valinor, where are they/do they live now?” ✧ PE22/125
- ᴹQ. Eldakar “Elfhelm”
- ᴹQ. Eldahar
- ᴹQ. Eldakan “Elf-bold”
- ᴹQ. Eldalie “People of the Elves, Elf-folk” ✧ Ety/ELED
- ᴹQ. Eldamar “Elvenhome” ✧ Ety/ELED
- ᴹQ. Eldanor “Elfland”
- ᴹQ. Eldanyáre “History of the Elves”
- ᴹQ. Eldar alphírimar “Elves are Immortals” ✧ PE22/124
- ᴹQ. Eldar Alphírimor “Elves are Immortals” ✧ PE22/124
- ᴹQ. Eldar ando kakainen loralyar Koivienenissen “the Elves were long lying asleep at Koivienéni” ✧ VT27/07
- ᴹQ. Eldarin “of the Elves, Elvish” ✧ Ety/ELED
- ᴹQ. Eldavel “Elfwold”
- ᴹQ. Eldamir “Elfstone”
- ᴹQ. en kárielto eldain Isil, hildin Úr-anar; toi írimar “for Elves they made the Moon, but for Men the red Sun; which are beautiful” ✧ LR/072; LR/072
- ᴹQ. Ilu Ilúvatar en káre eldain a fírimoin “the Father made the World for Elves and Mortals” ✧ LR/072
- ᴹQ. intin Eldalin “they (are or were) (some) Elves” ✧ PE22/124
- ᴹQ. Laiqeldar “Green-elves”
- ᴹQ.
Esselda“*First-elf”- ᴹQ. Moreldar “Dark-elves”
- ᴹQ. Naneldar “Danian Elves”
- ᴹQ. Pereldar “Half-eldar”
- ᴹQ. Veaneldar “Sea-elves”
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ√ELED > Elda [eleda] > [elda] ✧ Ety/ELED ᴹ√ÉLED > Elda [eleda] > [elda] ✧ Ety/ELED ᴹ✶edela > eleda [edela] > [eleda] ✧ EtyAC/EDE Variations
- eleda ✧ EtyAC/EDE (
eleda)
cwend
noun. Elf
A Doriathrin noun meaning “Elf” derived from primitive ᴹ✶kwenedē (EtyAC/KWEN(ED)), an example of the Ilkorin syncope.
Conceptual Development: This word is nearly identical to earlier Gnomish Cwenn “Elf” before Tolkien revised the phonological history of the Noldorin language so that [[on|[kw] became [p]]].
Cognates
- Dan. cwenda “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ✶kwenedē > cwend [kwenedē] > [kwenede] > [kwende] > [kwend] ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
cwenda
noun. Elf
A noun for “Elf” developed from primitive ᴹ✶kwenedē (Ety/KWEN(ED)). It is an example of the Danian syncope, with second unstressed [e] vanishing after the identical vowel. It is also one of the Danian words for which a long final vowel developed into short final [a].
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ✶kwenedē > cwenda [kwenedē] > [kwendē] > [kwenda] ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
edel
noun. Elf
A noun for “Elf” derived from primitive ᴹ✶edel-, an inversion of the primitive root ᴹ√ELED (Ety/ELED). Unlike most similar Danian nouns, it did not undergo the Danian syncope and retained its second vowel. One possible explanation is that the primitive form of this noun ended in a short vowel, ✱✶edelă, and this short final vowel vanished before the period of the syncope, preventing it from occurring in this word. Helge Fauskanger originally suggested a theory much like this one (AL-Nandorin/edel).
Conceptual Development: In an earlier version of this entry, the Danian word for Elf was given as Elda (Ety/ELED).
Cognates
- ᴹQ. Elda “Elf” ✧ Ety/ELED; Ety/ELED
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ√ÉLED > Elda [eledā] > [eldā] > [elda] ✧ Ety/ELED ᴹ✶edel- > Edel [edela] > [edel] ✧ Ety/ELED Variations
- Elda ✧ Ety/ELED (
Elda)
kwenedē
noun. Elf
Derivations
- ᴹ√KWEN(ED) “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
Derivatives
Element in
- ᴹ✶morikwende “Dark-elf” ✧ PE19/057; PE19/059
Variations
- kwènedḗ ✧ PE19/057; PE19/059
- kwendḗ ✧ PE19/059
- kwĕndĕ ✧ PE21/69
we
pronoun. we (inclusive)
Changes
- khe → we “the inclusive we” ✧ PE17/014
Variations
- khe ✧ PE17/014
kwen(ed)
root. Elf
Derivatives
Variations
- KWENED ✧ PE18/034; PE18/061
khe
pronoun. we (inclusive)
cwenn
noun. Elf
Changes
Cwend→ Cwenn ✧ GL/28Cognates
- Eq. Qen “Elf” ✧ GL/32; PE13/099; PE14/009
Element in
- G. Cweneglin “*Elvish (Qenya)” ✧ GL/28
Variations
- Cwend ✧ GL/28 (
Cwend)
gwenn
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
- ᴱ✶Gwendi ✧ PE13/146
Element in
- En. Gwennian
egol
noun. elf
idhel
noun. elf
ileth
noun. elf
uidhol
noun. elf
uigol
noun. elf
qen
noun. Elf
Cognates
Derivations
- ᴱ✶Gwendi ✧ PE13/146
Element in
- Eq. Qenya “Elvish”
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴱ✶Gwendi- > Qen [gʷend] > [gʷen] > [kʷen] ✧ PE13/146 Variations
- qende ✧ PE14/009
qe
pronoun. we (inclusive)
Element in
Variations
- qe- ✧ PE14/052; PE14/085
qende
noun. Elf
The suffix -lvë is the first person plural inclusive inflection: “we (including you)” (PE17/130; VT49/16, 51). The corresponding possessive form -lva “our (inclusive)” appears in its genitive form -lvo in the famous phrase elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo.
Possible Etymology: Tolkien indicated that this inflection was ultimately derived from the primitive pronoun ✶we, with the same plural marker l as other plural inflections such as -l(yë) and -ltë, and that its oldest form was ✶-lwe (PE17/130; VT49/50-51). At one point Tolkien indicated that the change of lw > lv was the normal phonetic development in Quenya (PE17/129). There little evidence that Tolkien carried through with the phonetic rule, however, and there are plenty of examples of unmodified lw in later Quenya. A better explanation might be that -lwe changed to -lve under the influence of the independent pronoun ve. These ideas came out of a discussion with Shihali on the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) on Jan 28, 2018.
Conceptual Development: @@@